by Barbara Latta
Resurrection Day. Or some call it Easter. The day the women
in Jerusalem found an empty tomb where the body of Jesus was placed by Joseph
of Arimathea.
Why do you seek the
living among the dead? He is not here, He is risen! (Luke 24:5).
Angels told the women why the tomb was empty.
Jesus had predicted his resurrection on many occasions, but
the reality of what His disciples and the citizens of Jerusalem had seen
outweighed His words (Matthew 16:21, Matthew 17:22-23).
They only saw the natural. Mockers yelled. Torture inflicted.
Blood flowed. A body died.
His mother cried.
His disciples ran.
One of them betrayed.
Another one denied.
Now at the tomb, the women who loved and served Him heard
the message that reiterated the Savior’s words of resurrection. “Why do you seek the living among the dead?”
When our focus turns to circumstances of life in this fallen
world, we can be looking for life in dead places, too. We forfeit time with God
for the busy schedule or we let hurts rule our emotions instead of running to
the open arms of our Father. Or we try to please God with all our good deeds. Why do we still seek the living among the dead?
Dead works will not bring us life. Only intimacy with the Father will.
He is not the baby in the manger anymore and He is not the
Man who walked the earth over 2,000 years ago anymore. And that Man was not the
way He is depicted in medieval paintings of a wimpy looking powerless human
being. He was God clothed in a body that held back all the power of heaven. The
veil of that body was pulled back for a short time on the Mount of Transfiguration
and three of His disciples saw that glory and fell on their faces in fear (Luke
17:1-6).
He allowed the Sanhedrin to hand Him over to Pilate. He
allowed Pilate to sentence Him to death. He allowed the soldiers to drive the
nails. He restrained the power of heaven so He could give to us the power to
live.
Remembering the risen Christ will show us what His resurrection did for
us.
- First, a person must believe Christ is resurrected (Romans 19:9-10).
- The wrath of God has been satisfied against sin. God is no longer angry at us and is not condemning us. But we must receive what He did and stop living under condemnation (Romans 8:1)
- The Holy Spirit is now given to dwell in us and give us power to live in this fallen world (Acts 2:1-4).
- Every power He has is deposited into our spirits at the new birth (Romans 811).
- Satan’s power is broken. The only way the devil can work against us is when we believe his lies (James 4:7).
- We are given eternal life (John 3:16).
Jesus’ time on earth was temporary to show us what God was
like and to identify with our weaknesses. The Son of God is now seated at the
right hand of the throne of God and will one day return to this earth as the
Warrior King He is and always has been. And all the power of this Warrior King
riding on a white horse judges the nations with the Sword of God and He will
rule and reign on the earth (Revelation 19:11-16). This is the Resurrected
Christ.
We have a lot to celebrate on Resurrection Day. It’s not a
day of rabbits and eggs. This is the day the Lord has made let us rejoice and
be glad in it. For He is risen!
What does Resurrection Day mean to you? Share your thoughts.
Brilliantly written...
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